Mobile station, wireless access network apparatus, and mobile communication system

ABSTRACT

A mobile station, a radio access network apparatus and a mobile communication system that can decrease signal amount of each message to decrease connection delay are provided. The mobile station is provided with storing means configured to store a conversion table between a combination of a plurality of parameters defined beforehand and an identifier representing the combination of the plurality of parameters; uplink transmission signal generation means configured to generate an uplink transmission signal including the identifier when performing uplink transmission; transmission means configured to transmit the uplink transmission signal to the radio access network apparatus; reception means configured to receive a downlink transmission signal transmitted by the radio access network apparatus; and parameter setting means configured to detect the identifier from the received downlink transmission signal, read and set a parameter based on the identifier.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a mobile station, a radio accessnetwork apparatus, and a connection setup method for a mobilecommunication system.

BACKGROUND ART

A conventional mobile communication system is configured to be able toprovide services of various data rates from low data rate such as avoice service to a streaming service, a download service and the likeaccording to the capability of a mobile apparatus. Therefore, whenperforming connection setup, it is necessary to exchange messagesbetween a mobile station and a network as shown in FIG. 1 so as toexchange large amount of information in each message with respect tocapability of the mobile station, security configuration, serviceconfiguration, radio channel configuration and the like.

For example, in the case of RRC (Radio Resource Control) connectionsetup shown in FIG. 1, since information equal to or greater than 100octets is transmitted using a low data rate channel, the transmissionrequires time.

In the following, a sequence of the RRC

Connection Setup shown in FIG. 1 is described.

First, the mobile station transmits a RRC Connection Request signal to aradio control apparatus (step S102).

The radio control apparatus responds to the signal to transmit a NBAP:Radio Link Setup Request signal to a radio base station apparatus (stepS104). In response to that, the radio base station apparatus transmits aNBAP: Radio Link Setup Response signal to the radio control apparatus(step S106).

Next, the radio control apparatus transmits a RRC Connection Setupsignal to the mobile station (step S108). In response to that, themobile station transmits a signal for reporting RRC Connection SetupComplete to the radio control apparatus (step S110).

Next, the mobile station transmits an Initial Direct Transfer signal tothe radio control station (step S112). In response to this, the radiocontrol apparatus transmits a Service Request signal to a core networkapparatus (step S114). The core network apparatus receives the signal,and transmits a Security Mode Command signal to the radio controlapparatus (step S116). In response to that, the radio control apparatustransmits a Downlink Direct Transfer signal to the mobile station (stepS118). The mobile station receives the signal, and transmits an UplinkDirect Transfer signal to the radio control apparatus (step S120). Theradio control apparatus receives the signal, and transmits a signal forreporting Security Mode Complete to the core network (step S122).

Next, the mobile station transmits an Uplink Direct Transfer signal tothe radio control apparatus (step S124). The radio control apparatusreceives the signal, and transmits a packet communication servicerequest (Active PDP Context Request) signal to the core networkapparatus (step S126). In response to that, the core network apparatustransmits a RAB (radio access bearer) Assignment Request signal to theradio control apparatus (step S128). The radio control apparatusreceives the signal and transmits a NBAP: Radio Link Setup Requestsignal to the radio base station apparatus (step S130). In response tothat, the radio base station apparatus transmits a Radio Link SetupResponse signal to the radio control apparatus (step S132).

The radio control apparatus receives the signal, and transmits a RadioBearer Setup request signal to the mobile station (step S134). Inresponse to that, the mobile station transmits a signal for reportingRadio Bearer Setup Complete to the radio control apparatus (step S136).

The radio control apparatus receives the signal, and transmits a RABAssignment Response to the core network apparatus (step S138).

In response to that, the core network apparatus transmits a packetcommunication service accept (Active PDP Context Accept) signal to theradio control apparatus (step S140). In response to that, the radiocontrol apparatus transmits a Downlink Direct Transfer signal to themobile station (step S142). As a result of the above-mentioned series ofthe procedure, U-plane is established between the mobile station and thecore network apparatus (step S144).

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problem to be Solved by the Invention

However, the following problem may occur in the above-mentionedbackground technique.

That is, as described before with reference to FIG. 1, when informationexchange is performed using a low data rate channel between the mobilestation and the network, transmission of information takes time, so thatthere is a problem in that the time appears to be delay time requireduntil connection completion for users.

The present invention is contrived in view of the above-mentionedproblem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mobilestation, a radio access network apparatus and a mobile communicationsystem that can decrease as much as possible the delay time requireduntil the connection completion (to be referred to as “delay time whenperforming connection setup” hereinafter) by decreasing a signal amountof each of the above-mentioned signals shown in FIG. 1.

Means for Solving the Problem

To solve the above-mentioned problem, the mobile station of the presentinvention is a mobile station for performing bidirectional communicationbetween the mobile station and a radio access network apparatus,including, as one of characteristics:

storing means configured to store a conversion table between acombination of a plurality of parameters defined beforehand and anidentifier representing the combination of the plurality of parameters;

uplink transmission signal generation means configured to generate anuplink transmission signal including the identifier when performinguplink transmission;

transmission means configured to transmit the uplink transmission signalto the radio access network apparatus;

reception means configured to receive a downlink transmission signaltransmitted by the radio access network apparatus; and

parameter setting means configured to detect the identifier from thereceived downlink transmission signal, read and set a parameter based onthe identifier.

By configuring like this, the signal length of the signals necessary foreach procedure in connection setup can be largely decreased so thatdelay time when performing connection setup can be decreased.

The radio access network apparatus of the present invention is a radioaccess network apparatus for performing bidirectional communicationbetween a mobile station and the radio access network apparatus,including, as one of characteristics:

storing means configured to store a conversion table between acombination of a plurality of parameters defined beforehand and anidentifier representing the combination of the plurality of parameters;

reception means configured to receive an uplink transmission signaltransmitted by the mobile station;

parameter setting means configured to detect the identifier from thereceived uplink transmission signal, read and set a parameter based onthe identifier; and

transmission means configured to transmit a downlink transmission signalbased on the parameter that is set.

By configuring like this, the signal length of the signals necessary foreach procedure in connection setup can be largely decreased so thatdelay time when performing connection setup can be decreased.

The mobile communication system of the present invention is a mobilecommunication system for performing bidirectional communication betweena mobile station and a radio access network apparatus,

the mobile station including:

storing means configured to store a conversion table between acombination of a plurality of parameters defined beforehand and anidentifier representing the combination of the plurality of parameters;

uplink transmission signal generation means configured to generate anuplink transmission signal including the identifier when performinguplink transmission;

transmission means configured to transmit the uplink transmission signalto the radio access network apparatus;

reception means configured to receive a downlink transmission signaltransmitted by the radio access network apparatus; and

parameter setting means configured to detect the identifier from thereceived downlink transmission signal, read and set a parameter based onthe identifier,

the radio access network apparatus including:

storing means configured to store a conversion table between acombination of a plurality of parameters defined beforehand and anidentifier representing the combination of the plurality of parameters;

reception means configured to receive an uplink transmission signaltransmitted by the mobile station;

parameter setting means configured to detect the identifier from thereceived uplink transmission signal, read and set a parameter based onthe identifier; and

transmission means configured to transmit a downlink transmission signalbased on the parameter that is set.

By configuring like this, the signal length of the connection setupsignal transmitted from the mobile station and the connection setupsignal transmitted from the radio access network apparatus can belargely decreased in each procedure necessary for so that delay timewhen performing connection setup can be decreased.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a mobile station, aradio access network apparatus and a mobile communication system thatcan decrease the signal length of the signals necessary for connectionsetup so as to decrease the delay time when performing connection setupcan be realized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram showing a connection setup sequence;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a mobile communication systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a mobile station according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an identifier conversion tableaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a radio access network apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a radio accessnetwork apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   100 mobile station-   200 radio access network apparatus

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Next, embodiments of the present invention are described with referenceto figures. By the way, in all figures for describing the embodiments,same symbols are used for parts having same function, and repeatingdescriptions are not provided.

Next, the preferred embodiments for carrying out the present inventionare described with reference to figures based on the followingembodiments.

The mobile communication system according to an embodiment of thepresent invention is described with reference to FIG. 2.

The mobile communication system of the present embodiment includes amobile station 100 and a radio access network apparatus 200. The mobilestation 100 and the radio access network apparatus 200 performsbidirectional communication with each other.

Next, a configuration of the mobile station of the present embodiment isdescribed with reference to FIG. 3.

The mobile station 100 includes a data transmit and receive 101 astransmission means and receiving means having an antenna, a signalgeneration unit 102 as uplink transmission signal generation meansconnected to the data transmit and receive unit 101, an identifierdetection unit 103 as parameter setting means and conversion tablecreation means, an identifier conversion table storing unit 104 asstoring means connected to the signal generation unit 102 and theidentifier detection unit 103, and a parameter setting unit 105connected to the identifier detection unit 103.

The data transmit and receive unit 101 performs transmission andreception of data. For example, the data transmit and receive unit 101performs transmission of an uplink transmission signal, reception of adownlink transmission signal, and reception of system information. Theuplink transmission signal and the downlink transmission signal includeevery signal for transmitting and receiving a parameter. For example, inthe sequence of connection setup described with reference to FIG. 1, forexample, each of the RRC connection request signal in step S102 and theuplink direct transfer signal in step S120 corresponds to the uplinktransmission signal. Each of the RRC connection setup signal in stepS108 and the direct transfer signal in step S118 corresponds to thedownlink transmission signal.

The signal generation unit 102 generates a signal including anidentifier. For example, when transmitting an uplink transmissionsignal, that is, when sending a connection request, for example, thesignal generation unit 102 refers to stored information in theafter-mentioned identifier conversion table storing unit 104 to replaceparameters to be transmitted with a corresponding identifier forgenerating a signal. By generating a transmission signal by replacing aplurality of parameters to be transmitted with an identifier in thisway, the signal length of the transmission signal can be effectivelydecreased.

The transmission signal in which the parameter to be transmitted isreplaced with the identifier is transmitted to the access networkapparatus 200, and an after-mentioned identifier detection unit 203 ofthe access network apparatus 200 detects the identifier. Then, anafter-mentioned identifier conversion table storing unit 204 of theaccess network apparatus 200 is referred to using the detectedidentifier so that the corresponding parameters and set values of theparameters are read.

As mentioned later, contents of the identifier conversion table storedin the identifier conversion table storing unit 104 in the mobilestation 100 are made to be the same as contents of the identifierconversion table stored in the identifier conversion table apparatus 204of the radio access network apparatus 200. As a result, as mentionedabove, each parameter that is the same as each parameter selected by thesignal generation unit 102 of the mobile station 100 is read from theidentifier conversion table storing unit 204 of the access networkapparatus 200, and the value is set by the parameter setting unit 205 ofthe access network apparatus 200.

The identifier conversion table storing unit 104 stores correspondencerelationship between a predefined combination of parameters and anidentifier indicating the combination of the parameters. For example,the identifier conversion table storing unit 104 stores at least oneidentifier for at least one of items of service configuration, securityconfiguration, mobile station capability setting, radio channelconfiguration, measurement item setting and discontinuous receptionsetting. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the identifier conversiontable storing unit 104 assigns each of identifies for each setting item,and stores parameters belonging to each identifier and a set value ofeach parameter as a table.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, in the identifier conversion tablestoring unit 104, mobile stations are classified for each data rate tobe stored as the items.

For example, 32 kbps mobile station class (UE capability 32 kbps class)is stored as an identifier 1-1, 64 kbps mobile station class (UEcapability 64 kbps class) is stored as an identifier 1-2, 128 kbpsmobile station class (UE capability 128 kbps class) is stored as anidentifier 1-3, and 384 kbps mobile station class (UE capability 384kbps class) is stored as an identifier 1-4.

In addition, parameters and the set values are stored in the identifierconversion table storing unit 104 for each class of the mobile stations.

For example, the identifier conversion table storing unit 104 storesSupport for RFC 3095, Support for RFC 3095 context relocation, Total RLCAM buffer size, Maximum RLC AM window size, FDD mode (Support for UTRAFDD), GSM service (Support for GSM) and the like as radio parameters ofthe UE 384 kbps class, and the identifier conversion table storing unit104 stores implemented (YES), implemented (YES), 50 k, UL:2047/DL:4095,implemented (YES) and implemented (YES) for their respective set values.

In addition, as an item, security related information (Security on) isstored in the identifier conversion table storing unit 104. For examplesecurity related information 1 is stored as an identifier 2-1.

In addition, parameters and the set values are stored for each piece ofthe security related information in the identifier conversion tablestoring unit 104. For example, the identifier conversion table storingunit 104 stores Ciphering algorithm, Ciphering activation time, spoofingprotection algorithm (Integrity protection algorithm) and spoofingprotection algorithm execution start time (Integrity protectionactivation time) as parameters of the security related information 1corresponding to the identifier 2-1, and the identifier conversion tablestoring unit 104 stores, as their respective set values, UEA1, packetnumber 0 (Sequence number 0), UIA1 and packet number 0 (Sequence number0).

The identifier detection unit 103 detects an identifier from the signalreceived by the data transmit and receive unit 101, and reads at leastone parameter indicated by the identifier and a set value of theparameter from the identifier conversion table storing unit 104.

The parameter indicated by an identifier may be one parameter or aplurality of parameters. However, the signal length to be transmittedcan be decreased more effectively in the case of indicating a pluralityof parameters using one identifier.

In addition, when the identifier detection unit 103 detects acombination of a new identifier and a parameter, the identifierdetection unit 103 adds and stores a combination of the new identifierand a parameter specified by the radio access network apparatus as onecorresponding to the new identifier in the identifier conversion tablestoring unit 104.

On the other hand, when the identifier detection unit 103 detects acombination of an existing identifier and a new parameter, theidentifier detection unit 103 updates the correspondence relationshipstored in the identifier conversion table storing unit 104.

That is, the identifier detection unit 103 generates an identifierconversion table based on a correspondence relationship between acombination of a plurality of received parameters and a receivedidentifier indicating the combination of the plurality of parameters.Then, the identifier detection unit 103 replace the existing identifierconversion table with the new identifier conversion table.

In these cases, the data transmit and receive unit 101 receives, fromthe radio access network apparatus 200, the correspondence relationshipbetween the combination of the plurality of received parameters and theidentifier indicating the combination of the plurality of parameters assystem information, for example.

As a result, contents of the identifier conversion table stored in theidentifier conversion table storing unit 104 become the same as contentsof the identifier conversion table stored in the after-mentionedidentifier conversion table storing unit 204 of the radio access networkapparatus 200.

The parameter setting unit 105 performs setting of each parameter valueread by the identifier detection unit 103 in this way.

Next, the radio access network apparatus 200 of the present embodimentis described with reference to FIG. 5.

The radio access network apparatus 200 includes a data transmit andreceive unit as transmission means and reception means, a signalgeneration unit 202 as downlink transmission signal generation means andan identifier detection unit 203 as parameter setting means that areconnected to the data transmit and receive unit 201, an identifierconversion table storing unit 204 as storing means connected to thesignal generation unit 202 and the identifier detection unit 203, and aparameter setting unit 205 connected to the signal generation unit 202and the identifier detection unit 203.

The data transmit and receive unit 201 performs data transmission andreception. For example, the data transmit and receive unit 201 performstransmission of a downlink transmission signal, reception of an uplinktransmission signal, and transmission of system information.

The uplink transmission signal and the downlink transmission signal meanevery signal transmitting a parameter. For example, in the connectionsetup sequence described with reference to FIG. 1, the uplinktransmission signal corresponds to the RRC connection request signal instep S102, the uplink direct transfer signal in step S120 and the like,for example. The downlink transmission signal corresponds to the RRCconnection setup signal in step S108, the direct transfer signal in stepS118 and the like.

The signal generation unit 202 generates a signal including theidentifier.

For example, in the case of transmitting a downlink transmission signal,that is, when sending a connection response for example, the signalgeneration unit 202 selects each parameter to be transmitted inconsideration of the information of the received connection requestsignal. Then, the signal generation unit 202 refers to storedinformation of the identifier conversion table storing unit 204 toreplace the selected parameters with a corresponding identifier so as togenerate the signal. By generating the transmission signal by replacingthe plurality of parameters to be transmitted with an identifier forgenerating the transmission signal, the signal length of thetransmission signal can be effectively decreased.

In addition, when the signal generation unit 202 reports the identifierto the mobile station 100, the signal generation unit 202 generates acombination of a plurality of parameters, each set value of theparameters, and a signal specifying an identifier representing thecombination of the parameters.

The signal specifying the identifier is transmitted to the mobilestation 100, so that the identifier detection unit 103 of the mobilestation 100 detects the identifier. Then, the identifier conversiontable storing unit 104 of the mobile station 100 is referred to usingthe detected identifier so that corresponding parameters and set valuesof the parameters are read.

As mentioned before, the contents of the identifier conversion tablestored in the identifier conversion table storing unit 104 of the mobilestation 100 is the same as the contents of the identifier conversiontable stored in the identifier conversion table storing unit 204 of themobile station 200.

As a result, as mentioned above, each parameter the same as theparameter selected by the signal generation unit 202 of the accessnetwork apparatus 200 is read from the identifier conversion tablestoring unit 104 of the mobile station 100, so that the value is set bythe parameter setting unit 105 of the mobile station 100.

Similar to the above-mentioned identifier conversion table storing unit104 described with reference to FIG. 4, the identifier conversion tablestoring unit 204 stores correspondence relationship between a predefinedcombination of a plurality of parameters and an identifier indicatingthe combination of the plurality of parameters. For example, theidentifier conversion table storing unit 204 stores at least oneidentifier for at least one item of service configuration, securityconfiguration, mobile station capability setting, radio channelconfiguration, measurement item setting and discontinuous receptionsetting. For example, as described with reference to FIG. 4, theidentifier conversion table storing unit 204 stores, as a table, aplurality of identifiers, a plurality of parameters belonging to eachidentifier and set values of each parameter for each setting item.

As mentioned above, the identifier detection unit 203 detects anidentifier from the signal received by the data transmit and receiveunit 201, and reads at least a parameter indicated by the identifier,and a set value of the parameter from the identifier conversion tablestoring unit 204.

One parameter may be represented by one identifier or a plurality ofparameters may be represented by one identifier. However, the signallength to be transmitted can be decreased more effectively in the casewhere a plurality of parameters are indicated by one identifier.

The identifier detection unit 203 transmits, to the mobile station viathe data transmit and receive unit 201, the correspondence relationshipbetween the combination of the plurality of parameters and theidentifier indicating the combination of the plurality of parameters asthe system information, for example.

The parameter setting unit 205 performs setting of each parameter valueread by the identifier detection unit 203 and performs setting of eachparameter value selected by the signal generation unit 202 in theabove-mentioned way. Then, the data transmit and receive unit 201transmits the downlink transmission signal to the mobile station 100based on the parameter value that is set in this way.

The above-mentioned embodiment is an embodiment in which, as shown inFIG. 6, the radio access network apparatus 200 includes the function ofthe radio control apparatus 220 and the function of the radio basestation apparatus 210. In this case, for example, the radio controlapparatus 220 is provided with the signal generation unit 202, theidentifier detection unit 203, the identifier conversion table storingunit 204 and a part of the parameter setting unit 205, and the radiobase station apparatus 210 is provided with a part of the parametersetting unit 205 and the data transmit and receive unit 201.

In addition, the radio access network apparatus 200 may be realized asthe radio control apparatus 220 and the radio base station apparatus210.

According to the present embodiment, by storing the identifierconversion tables (104, 204) as described with reference to FIG. 4 inboth of the mobile station 100 and the radio access network apparatus200, a plurality of parameters of the uplink transmission signaltransmitted from the mobile station and the downlink transmission signaltransmitted from the radio access network apparatus can be specified asan identifier in each procedure necessary for connection setup. Thus,the signal length of the signal sent and received by each means forconnection setup can be decreased so that the delay time when performingconnection setup can be decreased.

Although a sequence of connection setup is described as an example inthe present embodiment, the present invention can be applied to everyprocedure between the mobile station and the network.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The mobile station, the radio access network apparatus and the mobilecommunication system of the present invention can be applied to a mobilecommunication system.

The present application claims priority based on Japanese patentapplication No. 2005-250110, filed in the JPO on Aug. 30, 2005 and theentire contents of the Japanese patent application No. 2005-250110 areincorporated herein by reference.

1. A mobile station for performing bidirectional communication betweenthe mobile station and a radio access network apparatus, comprising:storing means configured to store a conversion table between acombination of a plurality of parameters defined beforehand and anidentifier representing the combination of the plurality of parameters;uplink transmission signal generation means configured to generate anuplink transmission signal including the identifier when performinguplink transmission; transmission means configured to transmit theuplink transmission signal to the radio access network apparatus;reception means configured to receive a downlink transmission signaltransmitted by the radio access network apparatus; and parameter settingmeans configured to detect the identifier from the received downlinktransmission signal, read and set a parameter based on the identifier.2. The mobile station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storing meansstores at least one identifier for at least one item of serviceconfiguration, security configuration, mobile station capabilitysetting, radio channel configuration, measurement item setting anddiscontinuous reception setting.
 3. The mobile station as claimed inclaim 1, the mobile station further comprising: conversion tablegeneration means configured to generate the conversion table based on areceived correspondence relationship between the combination of theplurality of parameters and the identifier representing the combinationof the plurality of parameters, wherein the reception means receives thecorrespondence relationship between the combination of the plurality ofparameters and the identifier representing the combination of theplurality of parameters from the radio access network apparatus.
 4. Themobile station as claimed in claim 3, wherein the reception meansreceives the correspondence relationship between the combination of theplurality of parameters and the identifier representing the combinationof the plurality of parameters as system information.
 5. A radio accessnetwork apparatus for performing bidirectional communication between amobile station and the radio access network apparatus, comprising:storing means configured to store a conversion table between acombination of a plurality of parameters defined beforehand and anidentifier representing the combination of the plurality of parameters;reception means configured to receive an uplink transmission signaltransmitted by the mobile station; parameter setting means configured todetect the identifier from the received uplink transmission signal, readand set a parameter based on the identifier; and transmission meansconfigured to transmit a downlink transmission signal based on theparameter that is set.
 6. The radio access network apparatus as claimedin claim 5, wherein the storing means stores at least one identifier forat least one item of service configuration, security configuration,mobile station capability setting, radio channel configuration,measurement item setting and discontinuous reception setting.
 7. Theradio access network apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein thetransmission means transmits the correspondence relationship between thecombination of the plurality of parameters and the identifierrepresenting the combination of the plurality of parameters to themobile station.
 8. The radio access network apparatus as claimed inclaim 7, wherein the transmission means transmits the correspondencerelationship between the combination of the plurality of parameters andthe identifier representing the combination of the plurality ofparameters as system information.
 9. A mobile communication system forperforming bidirectional communication between a mobile station and aradio access network apparatus, the mobile station comprising: storingmeans configured to store a conversion table between a combination of aplurality of parameters defined beforehand and an identifierrepresenting the combination of the plurality of parameters; uplinktransmission signal generation means configured to generate an uplinktransmission signal including the identifier when performing uplinktransmission; transmission means configured to transmit the uplinktransmission signal to the radio access network apparatus; receptionmeans configured to receive a downlink transmission signal transmittedby the radio access network apparatus; and parameter setting meansconfigured to detect the identifier from the received downlinktransmission signal, read and set a parameter based on the identifier,the radio access network apparatus comprising: storing means configuredto store a conversion table between a combination of a plurality ofparameters defined beforehand and an identifier representing thecombination of the plurality of parameters; reception means configuredto receive an uplink transmission signal transmitted by the mobilestation; parameter setting means configured to detect the identifierfrom the received uplink transmission signal, read and set a parameterbased on the identifier; and transmission means configured to transmit adownlink transmission signal based on the parameter that is set.